Skiing and Snowboarding in the French Alps
The French Alps is world famous for skiing and snowboarding, and there are many top class resorts throughout the mountain range. Snowboarding has become as popular as downhill skiing along the years, and all resorts and ski villages are adapting to welcome snowboarders as well as skiers.
We have focused on the Southern French Alps, as it is more ‘Undiscovered’ and offers fantastic skiing and snowboarding. The Southern French Alps has a great snow record, it is quiet and preserved, still has many authentic ski villages in operation, offers spectacular views and good value for money skiing. The region's number one asset is its climate, sunnier than anywhere else in France with an official average of 300+ days of sunshine every year. There are also a wide range of other activities to choose from to make a great winter multi activity holiday.
Ski Resorts and Ski Villages
We operate our ski and snowboard holidays on the southern edge of the Ecrins National Park in the little known Champsaur valley. There are six ski resorts in the Champsaur, and what's really special about this valley is the preservation of the five small ski villages on the way up to the main ski resort of Orcières 1850, a large and high altitude resort.
These ski villages are very friendly, quiet and peaceful with a strong emphasis on relaxed, family friendly skiing. Each has their own special character: South-facing, sunny Chaillol; the pretty alpine village of Ancelle; the tiny but cute Laye; the steep larch forested Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes; and for skiers with a passion for fresh powder, there is one tiny but tough little ski village called Serre-Eyraud, which has some great lift accessible off piste routes to be done over and over again! All these places each have between 5 and 14 ski lifts and a range of pistes for all levels.
And then if you're looking for a larger ski resort with high altitude skiing straight from your door, a fantastic indoor sports and leisure centre with a glass wall so you can swim with a view, a great range of shops, restaurants and bars and a choice of other non-skiing activities, there is Orcières 1850 with over 100kms of pistes and a summit close to 3000 meters of altitude!
Have a look at the piste maps for Orcières, Serre-Eynaud , Chaillol , Ancelle, St-Léger-les-Mélèzes and Laye
Most of the ski villages and the main resort of Orcières have child care facilities for little ones from 3 months to 6 years old, and a special ski kindergarten for3 to 6 year olds.
When to Come
The season stretches from late December until April. The best time to come if you want to avoid the French school holidays are the months of January and March, but even in peak season you will be surprised at how quiet it is compared to some of the better known resorts.